Tampa! We are coming for you, 2020

NEW YORK RANGERS vs TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING

THE STANLEY CUP

The Holy Grail of hockey.

It is the prize that awaits the winner—no, winner is not a strong enough word.

It is the prize that is awarded to the survivor of the two month long tournament that takes place every year to crown the EHE champion.

It has been called by many the hardest trophy to win in all of sports.

There is much truth to that statement.

There is no question that winning a Super Bowl, or a World Cup, or a NBA championship or a World Series title is a grueling affair as well.

But there is something about the Stanley Cup playoffs that makes it different, that makes it extra special and that seem to create such memorable moments that they endure in the hearts and minds of their fans like no other playoffs in all of sports.

No other playoffs in all of sports can cause their fans such exhilaration, followed by crushing anguish as the NHL playoffs. From one game to the next, no one really knows what to expect and momentum can be as fickle as a bad deflection or crazy bounce off the boards.

A closer look at the New York Rangers games against the Tampa Bay Lightning from this season.

The New York Rangers really dug a hole for themselves during the season - to be questioned if the playoffs are even a reality this year? It all went down the strech run of the last 10 games or so where Rangers were head to head with the Penguins for that last spot in the playoffs and Rangers come on top after a collapse from the Penguins and now here we are - the Tampa Bay Lightning.

TALE OF THE TAPE

This is Tampa's second Playoff appearance in the short EHE life as they made it last year and were elimanated in the 2nd round.

Rangers won the first meating of 3 games series this season, before surrendering the other two later on in the season. John Carlson, John Tavares and Patrick Kane all had 4 points in those 3 meatings. Robin Lehner had two out of three starts.
Besides the fact the Rangers fell 1-2 in the series against Tampa this season, they also have some recent history - Rangers traded Jordan Staal to the Lightning at the start of the season who had a really decent 43 point campaign with the Bolts on a 3rd line role and strengthen their penalty kill too playing 2 minutes a night while being down a man.

"One fact that shouldn't be ignored - both GM's have been at their teams helms almost all EHE history. Rangers GM Martin Auzins having enjoyed 458 games and Justin Hill 441 games in the EHE which is no small feat."

Tampa, who continued to the postseason last year, has been a solid group again this year. The Bolts play with fast-paced style and see reliable scoring from all positions - led by Ryan O'Reilly, Brayden Point, Junoathan Huberdeau and Alex Radulov.

For the Blueshirts, the top line will have to be at the top of their game when playoffs begin. They will live and die based on the play of those three players, especially considering the lack of depth scoring that has plagued the team all season.

It’s up to Kane and Tavares. 

It may be overstating the obvious, but the Rangers won’t win unless Kane and Tavares are firing on all cylinders.  When they are, the Rangers’ offense is almost unstoppable with top line frustrating the opposition defense.  Great players rise to the occasion in big games and the first game against the Lightning will be the biggest game the year.
Its going to be up to Kreider, Reinhart, Staal, Zibanejad and Zucarello to elevate their games and build off the excellence of the two superstars. On the backend John Carlson and Seth Jones will have to bring everything they have to shut down Tampa Bay. 

Who will be the  New York Rangers starting goaltender in the playoff round against the Tampa Bay Lightning?

It should be Robin Lehner but don't count Darcy Kuemper out either. Both are world class goaltenders and Rangers will have a tough time of choosing. If one fails to deliver the other one will be ready.

The Unpredictability

The Unlikely Hero

The Home Crowd

The Sudden Death Overtime

 The Cup

Rangers fans’ and even the Rangers’ players might be thinking, “why not us?”

This is the best time. This is playoff time.

MARTIN AUZINS

GENERAL MANAGER / NEW YORK RANGERS